Hundreds Fall Ill After Eating Imported Cucumbers

 Posted on September 13, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Over the past three years, more than 600 people in the United States have become ill with Salmonella Poona after consuming cucumbers grown and packed in Mexico by Rancho Don Juanito and distributed in the United States by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. The victims hailed from 30 states. As of September 4, 2015, 70 victims have been hospitalized and two have died.

In response to the outbreak, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has recalled all of the cucumbers that were released with the contaminated crops. Recalls serve as a way for companies to remove their harmful products from the marketplace to protect consumers from falling ill or being injured. If you have been affected by a recalled product, you could potentially have grounds for a product liability claim. When that product is a type of food or food product, it is in your best interest to work with an experienced food poisoning attorney to file and pursue your claim.

Symptoms of Salmonella Poona

Salmonella Poona is a variant of the salmonella bacteria that can cause illness in humans. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include the following:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Joint pain
• Fever

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 72 hours after coming into contact with the contaminated food. The illness can last up to seven days. In some cases, the infection can spread from the intestines to other areas of the body, causing further infection. In rare cases, an affected individual can die if he or she does not receive antibiotic treatment quickly after becoming infected.

How is Salmonella Spread?

Salmonella bacteria can be transmitted to humans through food contaminated with the bacteria and through animals carrying the bacteria. Rodents and small reptiles such as turtles are often carriers of Salmonella. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling these animals and after touching any type of raw meat. Wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them and keep yourself updated about food recalls in the United States by checking recalls.gov on a regular basis. You can also sign up for an email newsletter of all new food recalls.

As a parent, teach your child to have good hand-washing habits when he or she eats at school or at friends' homes. Although you can not monitor everything your child does, you can give him or her the skills to keep him or herself safe when you are not around.

Food Poisoning Attorneys in Illinois

Although many cases of food poisoning resolve themselves fairly quickly, some can become serious or even deadly, especially for those with weakened immune systems such as the elderly and young children. Learn more about food poisoning and the process of filing a food poisoning claim during your initial consultation with an experienced Illinois food poisoning attorney at the Law Offices of Newland & Newland, LLP. Always seek medical attention for any illnesses you experience, not only for your own recovery but to have a record of your treatment to use as evidence for your personal injury claim if you choose to file one. Then, contact an experienced injury attorney for legal help with your claim.